Superintendent Mark Medwecki from Crime Prevention Bureau (CPB) recently presented a plaque to Professor Fung Ho-yin of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, following a successful collaborative joint project between the bureau and the university. The project's key aim was to design a new professional logo for the bureau that would be used on all crime prevention publicity materials and help establish the bureau's identity in the local community.

In addition, the university was asked to help design a range of new souvenirs for distribution during crime prevention campaigns.

Upon being approached for help in early 2007, Prof Fung, in charge of the university's School of Design, agreed that the design of a logo and souvenirs would be a worthwhile project for his design students. The project kicked off in September 2007 with Mr Medwecki briefing the students on the work of CPB as well as showing them existing publicity materials. A number of impressive proposals by the students followed but initially none of the designs got it quite right. All of the proposed designs were good but Mr Medwecki wanted something that would immediately resonate with the local Chinese community - in short, something with a Chinese flavour. Finally, a winning design based on two Chinese characters was chosen.

The concepts underlying the new CPB logo are simplicity, clarity, distinctiveness and meaning. The two overlapping Chinese characters "防" and "罪" ("prevent" and "crime") combine to form a striking graphic design while at the same time unambiguously conveying the crime prevention message. A new slogan "Join Hands, Prevent Crime" will be used in conjunction with this logo, which will further emphasise CPB's partnership with the community.

Mr Medwecki further explained that the old CPB logo had been used since 1995 but did little to establish the CPB "brand" in the local community. He felt that a new logo that captured the essence of crime prevention work and reflected the professionalism of the bureau was required. However, the design of such a logo was beyond the ability of CPB and likewise, money was not available to employ a professional company to undertake the design. Hence, the idea of a collaborative project with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University was considered.

Mr Medwecki added that all Regional Crime Prevention Offices (RCPOs) as well as CPB would use the logo on their publicity materials to establish a "Crime Prevention" brand in Hong Kong. The logo design is such that it can be used by different RCPOs as well as CPB in a customised way. He hoped that before long Hong Kong citizens would recognise the logo whenever they see it and immediately associate it with the Force in a positive manner.

Finally, Mr Medwecki praised the students and staff of the university for their enthusiasm, professionalism and participation in this project, which had given CPB a very professional and striking logo as well as a selection of interesting souvenir items.

Superintendent Medwecki presenting a plaque to Prof Fung with the design students looking on